Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 45

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Loren Wright, the father of our subject, was born in Lathrop township in April, 1809. He was reared in that township and purchased a farm of 196 acres of wild land in Lenox township, a large portion of which he cleared. He was three times married. By his first wife, M. Farrer, he had three children : Mary, who married A. Reynokls. of Waverly, Penn .; Jane, who married B. Fessenden ; and a child, who died in infancy. His second wife was Esther (Philips) Marcy, daughter of Noal Philips, and widow of Simon Marcy. By her first marriage she had one son. S. Marcy. and two daughters. Angeline and Olive. To Loren and Esther Wright were born the following children: Lucetta, deceased; Ellen, who married first J. Wicks and later Thomas Stewart, of Scranton :

1521

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Addie, wife of James Russell, of Allentown ; George A., our subject; and Loren, of Lenox township. The mother died in May, 1858, and for his third wife the father married Mary Dickson, by whom he had one son, D. W. Wright.

George A. Wright was born in Lenox town- ship, June 20, 1853. He received a common school education and remained at hoine to the age of twenty-two years, when he began farming. He was married July 17, 1875, to Miss Lamorie H. Snyder, who was born July 15, 1855, daughter of Horace and Caroline (Cole) Snyder, who migrated from New York State to Lenox township, Susque- hanna county, where they died. Their five chil- dren were Horace P., a physician of Grand Rapids, Michigan; H. Newell, of Nicholson township, Wyoming county ; F. A., of Lenox township; Caro- line, who died young ; and Lamorie H., wife of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. George Wright have been born the following children: George Hayes, who died at the age of two years and nine months ; Caroline May, wife of Eugene Lewis, of Harford township, Susquehanna county; Lester S., who died aged one year and four months; and Jennie, Charles W., Ossie, Elsie F., Harold, Retta Belle, and Clarence H., at home.

Mr. Wright first purchased property in La- throp township. Five years later he removed to Lenox township, where he has since cultivated fifty-eight acres of the old homestead and made many improvements in buildings, fences and in clearing the land. He is engaged in general farm- ing, and has an apiary of one hundred and twenty- five swarms of bees, having been unusually success- ful in the culture of bees. His daughter Jennie is engaged extensively in poultry raising and Mr. Wright includes dairying in his farming operations. He has been most successful with his diversified farming, and by the combination of intelligence, enthusiasm and energy, he has made his well- tilled acres one of the most productive spots in the township. In politics Mr. Wright is an uncompro- mising Democrat. He is an active worker in the Free Methodist Church, of which he is now steward and exhorter.

JAMES E. LYNCH. Sterling virtues have been cultivated among the picturesque hills of Apolacon township, Susquehanna county. The pioneers who performed the arduous labors neces- sary to reduce the wilderness to fruitful farms, were men and women of determined purpose, who stead- fastly bore the brunt of labor, which in time has placed them in positions of comfort and ease. Only as time passes can full credit be bestowed upon these earnest people, for the important result of their work becomes more conspicuous as the years glide by. The Lynch family is included in the number of prominent citizens, to whom the present generation in Apolacon township owes its debt of gratitude for the present agricultural development.

Martin Lynch, the father of our subject, was

born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1808. He was reared and educated in his native land and there in 1833 married Mary McCarty. Soon after their marriage the young couple came to America in a sailing vessel. They landed at New York, where Mr. Lynch worked at his trade of bricklayer, plas- terer and stone cutter. While residing in New York he worked at his trade in the Southern States during the winter months, returning for summer work to New York, where his family resided. In 1842 he moved to what is now Apolacon, then Choconut township, where he purchased wild land, cleared up a farm and established a home for his wife and family. While in New York he was pros- perous in business and he brought with him to Susquehanna county enough money to pay for the land he purchased. He lived in the home in Apola- con township until his death in 1886, his wife sur- viving him two years, passing away in 1888. Politi- cally Mr. Lynch was a Democrat, and held a nuni- ber of local offices in his town. In religion he and his wife were consistent members of the Catholic Church, and gave liberally of his means in the building and support of the church, helping to build both the old and the present new edifice of Friendsville.

To Martin and Mary Lynch were born seven children, five sons and two daughters: (1) Mar- garet, the eldest, was born in South Carolina in 1842. She received an education in the schools of Apolacon and married Michael Brodrick, of Sus- quehanna county. They settled at Forest Lake township, where she died in 1895, leaving eleven children, namely : Patrick, Michael, Martin, John, Thomas, James, Mary, Ellen, Julia, Augustus and Lucy, all living, and all prosperous men and women. (2) Thomas Lynch born in Choconut in 1843, was during the Civil war a fireman on the railroad near which the battle of Bull Run was fought. He, to- gether with other trainmen, was engaged in carry- ing the wounded from the field, and was himself wounded three times during that service, but sur- vived his wounds and returned home. He found employment with the New York & Erie Railroad. Locating at Hornellsville, N. Y., he married Miss Julia Haley, of that place, and there they now re- side. He has been an engineer on the New York & Erie road for thirty-two years. (3) John W. Lynch, born in Apolacon, in 1845, learned the trade of blacksmith and settled in Binghamton, where he opened a shop. He married Miss Mary Murphy, of Owego, N. Y., who died in Binghamton, leaving five children. as follows: Mary, wife of Edward Keating, of Hoboken ; Kate, wife of Thomas Smitlı, of Binghamton ; Margaret ; John ; and William. (4) Mary, born in Apolacon, in 1848, married Michael Flaherty, of Choconut. They settled on a farm. where she died, leaving ten children, namely : Delia, wife of John Boland, of Little Meadows; Anna, a professional nurse of Binghamton ; Alice, a resident of Chicago: Thomas, of Binghamton : Mary, wife of Charles Williams, of Binghamton ;

1522

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Celia, Martin, Lucy, Edward and James, all of Chicago. (5) Michael, born in Apolacon, in 1850, died when sixteen years old. (6) Martin, born in Apolacon, in 1852, is now an engineer on the Erie R. R., and a resident of Hornellsville, N. Y. He married Johanna Cooners, of New York, and has four children-Martin, John, Frank and Julia.

James E. Lynch, our subject, a prominent dairy farmer of Apolacon township, was born in that township March 29, 1846. He was reared 011 the farm, attending the winter schools, where he received the rudiments of an education. When seventeen years old he commenced the trade of stone cutter, which he followed for six years. In 1866 he married Miss Mary Flaharty, a native of Choconut township. daughter of Thomas and Bridget Flaharty, residents of Choconut township, who immigrated from Ireland to this country in - 1845, and settled in Choconut township, Susque- hanna county, where Mr. Flaharty died in October, 1865. His widow still lives on the old home. Mrs. Lynch, the wife of our subject, was born June 2, 1846, and was educated in the St. Joseph schools. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lynch settled on the old homestead in Apolacon. In 1866 they reinoved to Scranton, where he worked at the trade of stone cutting. In 1873 they removed to Apolacon and purchased the old homestead, where he has re- mained to the present time. In 1883 he built a fine residence, having every modern improvement. He has erected three barns on his property, now owning one of the most valuable and well culti- vated farms in that section of the county.

To our subject and wife have been born six children, as follows: Thomas, the eldest, born at the present home, December 26, 1867, was killed when fifteen years old by a runaway team. (2) Agnes, born February 22, 1869, was a student of the select schools in Choconut under Miss Chamber- lain's instructions. She married Daniel Boland, a farmer, of Bradford county. Penn., and to them were born two children-Mary Florence, who died in infancy, and Patrick H. Mrs. Boland was well educated in inusic and for several years was organist in St. Francis' Church. (3) Henry, born April 16, 1870, entered the railroad service and is now a pop- ular young train conductor between Hornellsville and Salamanca, N. Y. (4) William M., born Oc- tober 5, 1871, remained at home until June, 1899, when he engaged with the contractors on the Long Island Asylum. (5) Edward J. Lynch, born Sep- tember 14, 1881. in Choconut, was educated in the home schools and in the select schools of Choconut. He has been a student at the Hornellsville Con- servatory of Music and is well advanced in musical science. (6) Frances Grace. born November 14. 1887, the youngest of this family, is a student of the home schools.

Politically Mr. Lynch has always been iden- tificd with the Democratic party. He has held the office of road commissioner for four terms. school director and poormaster. He was elected

justice of the peace, but refused to fill tlie commis- sion. Religiously himself and wife and family are all consistent members of the Catholic Church of Friendsville. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Friendsville, Penn. Mr. Lynch is stockholder and president of the Crystal Spring Creamery of Choconut, and one of the leading citi- zens of the township. His wife is a woman of many virtues and has reared her children to be God-fear- ing men and women. They are a family united in the love of their home.

JOSEPH W. HOWARD, a prominent reprc- sentative of the farining and stock raising interests of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, is a na- tive of that county, born in Brooklyn township. in December, 1831, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Reece) Howard. The father was born in the same township, in 1811.

The paternal grandfather, Samuel Howard, was a native of Connecticut, but when a young man came to Susquehanna county, and was one of the first settlers of Brooklyn township. He married Miss Nancy Jones, whose parents were born in Wales, and took up their residence here about the same time as Mr. Howard did. He cleared and improved a farm in Brooklyn township, but finally sold the place and with one of his sons moved to Auburn township. Susquehanna county, where he died, leaving a wife and six children. She lived to the advanced age of ninety years. The children of this worthy couple were as follows: John mar- ried and moved to Bradford county, Penn., where he became quite well-to-do, while one of his sons is now a leading business man of Browntown. Samuel married and first located in Auburn town- ship, Susquehanna county, but later removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he died and where his four sons are still living. Polly married James Robinson, of Auburn township, where she died, leaving a family. Olive first married John Robin- son, and after his death Walter Barlow, whose home was near Binghamton, N. Y., where both died. Nancy married Marsh Barlow, and resided in Broome county, New York.

Charles Howard, father of our subject, com- pletes the family. After his first marriage he took up land in Auburn township, where he cleared and improved two farms, and on selling his property there he removed to Franklin township, where he died at the home of his son Henry, in 1895. The mother of our subject had passed away in 1856, and he had subsequently wedded Mary Jane Fisk, of Susquehanna county, by whom he had two sons, Henry and Charles, still residents of Franklin township. Our subject is the second in order of birth of the three children born of the first union. Bloomfield, the oldest, is married and has two chil- dren. Alice and Harry, who make their home with their parents in Montrose. Louisa, the only daugh- ter, married Amos De Witt. of Brooklyn township. who was a soldier of the Civil war, and died in 1896.

...

1523

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

She is a resident of Binghamton, N. Y., as are also her three sons-William, Charles and Morris.

Joseph W. Howard grew to manhood in Au- burn township, Susquehanna county, and acquired lis education in its public schools. In 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia E. Baker, a daughter of Joseph and Polly Baker, of Dutchess county, N. Y., and to them were born seven chil- dren: (1) Rosaline and (2) Frederick, both died in childhood. (3) Charles, born in March, 1855, died at the age of eighteen years. (4) Louisa, born in May, 1857, is the wife of Addison Fish, of Lib- erty township, and they have two children: Ernest and Clara, both at home. (5) James, born in April, 1860, was reared on the home farm and received a district school education. He married Melvina Henry, daughter of Joseph Henry, of Liberty town- ship, and located on one of his father's farms in that county, where he died in June, 1887, leaving a wife and one daughter. The latter, Ada May, was born in October, 1880, and has made her home with our subject since her father's death. She has been educated in the district schools and is the pride of

her grandparents. (6) Sophia, born in Auburn township, in November, 1862, is the wife of William Northirup, of Liberty township, who resides on the old Northrup homestead and has been an invalid from rlieumatism for twenty years. They have two daughters : Jennie; and Mary, wife of Ernest Ris- ley, of Liberty township. (7) Jennie, born Feb- ruary 19, 1864, married Samuel Brown, of Hall- stead, Penn., who was an employe of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and died in 1894. She and her three children, Walter, Hazel and Howard, still reside in Hallstead.

After his marriage, Mr. Howard located in Auburn township, where he followed lumbering for three years, and then removed to Great Bend township, Susquehanna county, where he purchased a half interest in 2,400 acres of land and became general manager for the lumber firm, serving in that capacity until they sold out a number of years later. He then operated a rented farm in Great Bend township until 1862, when he laid aside all personal interests to strike a blow in the cause of freedom and for the defense of the Union. He en- listed in Company D, 50th P. V. I., which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Burnside, and his first engagement was the battle of the Wilderness May 6, 1864. He took part in the battle of Nye River, Va., May 9, 1864; Spott- sylvania, May 12; Cold Harbor, June 3; Peters- burg, June 17 and 18, 1864; and the siege of that place, which lasted from March 8, 1865, until its capture April 3. While foraging near Cold Harbor he was shot by a rebel and the buckshot remains in his body to this day. At Spottsylvania he was captured by the enemy, but made his escape by the assistance of a colored family, who concealed him for several days and aided him in reaching the Union lines, wlicre he arrived after traveling three nights. He was honorably discharged near George-

town, D. C., June 6, 1865, and returned to his wife and family. He purchased a farm one mile west of Lawsville, where he cleared forty acres and made many other improvements, but later traded the place for what is now known as the Moran farm near Lawsville, which he subsequently traded for a larger farm in Liberty township-the one on which he now resides. He erected thereon a com- fortable residence, built good barns and other out- buildings, and now has one of the best improved farms of the locality. Originally, Mr. Howard was an old line Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch sup- porters, and socially he is an honored member of Southworth Post, No. 222, G. A. R., of Franklin Forks. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place, and they merit and receive the high respect and esteem of the entire community in which they live.

ELMER V. POTTER, a prominent agricul- turist and dairyman of Gibson township, Susque- hanna county, was born at his present homestead May 16, 1857, and the greater portion of his life has been spent there. He comes of good pioneer stock, his paternal grandparents, Parley and Philena Potter, having been early settlers in Gibson town- ship, and the members of the family have usually been identified with agricultural pursuits.

George W. Potter, our subject's father, was born in Gibson township, May 28, 1820, and be- came a successful farmer at the homestead, but for many years he was engaged in the hotel business at Herrick Center. On March 9, 1877, while in Susquehanna on business, he was accidentally killed, being struck by a railroad train. He was an excellent citizen, being noted for his kindness of heart, and he and his wife, Elizabeth Howell, were much estcemed among a large circle of friends. They had six children, viz .: Freelove. deceased ; Emaline, Mrs. Alfred Bowell; Elmer V., our sub- ject; girl baby; Emily, Mrs. Emory Miller; and Etta C., Mrs. George D. Hine. Mrs. Elizabeth (Howell) Potter was born in Gibson township, Sep- tember 28, 1827, and died August 2, 1899.

Elmer V. Potter spent his early years in assist- ing his father in the work of the hotel and farm. In 1868 the family removed to Herrick Center, but after three years our subject returned to the farm, to remain for three years. He then went to Herrick Center for another period of three years. but he has since made his home at the farm. Tlie place comprises 200 acres, and under Mr. Potter's able management is known as one of the best farms in the vicinity. He makes a specialty of dairying. keeping about sixteen cows. While he does not care for official honors. he is'a stanchi Democrat. and socially lie is identified with the I. O. O. F .. Huron Lodge, No. 483, at Jackson. On December 29, 1880, he was married in Jackson township, Sus- quehanna county, to Miss Ella L. Stone, of Thonip- son, Penn., a daughter of Norman Stone, and sister

1524

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of D. E. Stone, of Thompson township, Susque- hanna county. She died June 8, 1883, aged twenty- three years, and her remains were interred at Gelatt.

MARK B. PERIGO, one of the most enter- prising, energetic and successful farmers and stock raisers of Rush township, Susquehanna county, was born in Sussex county, N. J., January 15, 1336, a son of Charles B. and Rachel S. (Simpson) Perigo, also natives of Sussex county, N. J., where they were married and continued to make their home until 1839. It was during that year that they came to Susquehanna county and took up their resi- dence in Forest Lake, then Middletown township, where they remained for twelve years. In 1851 they located in Rush township, where the mother died in 1857, at the age of fifty-one years. The father continued to actively engage in agricultural pur- suits until 1881, when he laid aside business cares and spent his last days in retirement in Montrose, where he passed away August 2, 1887, at the age of seventy-nine years, his remains being interred in Birchardville cemetery. He was a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist Church and a Republican in politics. He was honored with several township offices, such as assessor and school director. His children were as follows: Maria P., wife of David Godwin, who is living retired in Rush; Mark B., our subject ; Edward S., a veteran of the Civil war, and a hardware merchant of Ellis county, Kan .; A. Judson, who died during his service in the Civil war; Sarah E., who died at the age of five years ; Charles T., a resident of Danville, Penn .; and Al- bert, who is engaged in the livery business in Mont- rose. The grandfathers of our subject, David Perigo and William Simpson, spent their entire lives as farmers in Sussex county, New Jersey.

During his minority Mark B. Perigo remained with his parents, and then worked for neighboring farmers until after the opening of the Rebellion. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Susquehanna county, becoming a member of Company H, 143d P. V. I., under John C. Morris. In the taking of the Weldon rail- road he was wounded in the right eye by the burst- ing of a shell, and for two weeks was confined in the hospital at City Point. He participated in many hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill. Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Bethesda Church and Watcher's Run. The war having ended and his services being no longer needed. Mr. Perigo was discharged at Hart Island, N. Y., June 12, 1865, and mustered out at Camp Curtin with an honorable war record, of which he may be justly proud. On his return home, he resumed work among thie farmers at Williamsport, Penn., . and after his marriage located upon his present farm in Rush township, where he has since successfully carried on operations as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is now the owner of two good farms.

On January 15, 1868, in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county, Mr. Perigo was united in marriage with Miss Britania Turrell, who was born in that township May 10, 1840, and died February 20. 1887. Her parents, Stanley and Ruth A. (Thacher) Turrell, were natives of Connecticut, and on coming to Susquehanna county, located in Forest Lake township, where they ever afterward made their home. The father, who was a prominent farmer, was born February 19, 1800, and died April 21. 1879, while the mother was born June 9, 1810, and died April 19, 1889, the remains of both being interred in the old Turrell cemetery on a part of the old Turrell homestead. In their family were the following children: Ellen, now the wife of D. W. Glidden, of Forest Lake; Lucy A., who died in 1841 ; George, deceased; Horace, a farmer of Min- nesota; Adaline, deceased; Britania, wife of our subject ; Frederick, deceased; and Franklin, who lives on the old homestead. Mrs. Perigo's paternal grandfather was Leman Turrell, a native of Con- necticut, who was a farmer by occupation, and became a resident of Forest Lake township, Sus- quehanna county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Perigo were Jennie, now the wife of Daniel C. Darrow, who is engaged in clerking in Lackawanna county, Penn .; Ellen T., wife of Scott Bolles, who lives with our subject ; Sarah A., at home; Martha, a school teacher, also residing at home ; and Flora, a graduate of the Montrose high school, at home. Mr. Perigo was again married, September 1, 1890, his second union being with Miss Elmira M. Ham- lin, a native of Forest Lake township, who died November 30, 1897, at the age of forty-seven years, and was buried in Birchardville. Her parents were George H. and Lucy A. (Blair) Hamlin, who are still residents of Forest Lake township. The father was in early life a cooper, but later has engaged in farming.

Fraternally, Mr. Perigo is a member of the .Grand Army of the Republic, and the Patrons of Husbandry, and religiously holds membership in the Baptist Church, of which he has served as clerk for the past twelve years. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Repub- lican party, and he is as true to his duties of citizen- ship in days of peace as in times of war. He has an extensive circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem him highly for his genuine worth.

AUGUSTUS W. BALCH, proprietor of the most complete general store in Matamoras, Pike county, conducted under the firm name of A. W. Balch & Son, is one of the busiest, most energetic and most progressive business men of that thriving town, and by fair and honorable dealing has built up an excellent trade.

Our subject's father, Orin Balch, was prob- ably a native of Connecticut. He had one brother. Jolin H., of whom we have record. Orin Balch grew to manhood in his native State and married Miss Rebecca J. Wood, a daughter of Elijah E.

----

1525

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Wood. At an early day, they removed to Cort- land county, N. Y., and in 1843 came with their family to Honesdale, Penn., where the father was employed in a glass factory and at other labor. Later they lived at Randall, William's Lock, along the D. & H. canal, where they kept boarders, finally returning to Honesdale, where Mr. Balch died in 1850. In the family were four children, namely : Henry, who died when young; Lorman, who died in infancy; Augustus W., our subject ; and Eliza. who died in infancy. Mrs. Balch died in 1858, near Honesdale, and both she and her husband were buried at Indian Orchard, near by. Her mother died when she was quite young, and her father not long after, when she was but seven years of age; she and her brother Elijah subsequently lived with Hailey Barnes, near Lackawaxen, Penn. She had another brother, James, and two sisters, Caroline and Eliza.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 45

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1058